The head of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization has called for supporting Ukraine in the long haul, saying the war could last for years.

Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg made the forecast in an interview released on Sunday in Germany's Bild newspaper.

He said, "We must prepare for the fact that it could take years." He added, "We must not let up in supporting Ukraine even if the costs are high, not only for military support, but also because of rising energy and food prices."

But Stoltenberg has ruled out the possibility that NATO will send troops directly to Ukraine.
He said NATO has been boosting military capability to safeguard the land, sea, and air of member nations. He insisted that NATO is sending this clear message to Russia, so that Moscow will not misunderstand the alliance's stance.